How to use Verizon Family to monitor your child’s texting activity

With so much of our kids’ daily lives happening over devices and texting, it’s not always easy to know what’s happening in their world—good or bad. Many parents are looking to catch a glimpse of what’s happening in those chats, without invading their kids’ privacy. But there’s a text monitoring tool in the Verizon Family app that can help.

Text message monitoring is one of the free features on the Verizon Family app. But once you’ve got it installed and can check on your kid’s text activity, what do you do with the information? Here, I’ll share what to be aware of, how to talk about it with your kid and how to set some healthy boundaries.

What text monitoring can and can’t do

Can Verizon Family read my kids’ text messages? No. But you’ll see patterns.

Verizon Family will show you the phone numbers, time stamps and frequency of your child’s texts over the cellular network, but not over third-party apps like iMessage, Google Messages or Snapchat.

This feature gives parents insight into their kid’s texting behavior to help them spot any possible concerns, such as sudden changes in texting habits or unusual late-night activity. Consider using this information as a conversation starter to check in with your child. Transparency is also key—it’s essential that your child know that you’re using this feature on their phone.

How to check your child’s text patterns in the Verizon Family app

To find this data, follow these steps:

1. Open the Verizon Family app on your device.

2. Go to Family Profiles and select your child’s device.

3. Scroll to the Calls & Texts section to find phone and text history.

4. Select View More to dive deeper into patterns and trends.

Here are three key ways to use the data you find:

1. Watch for sudden changes.

If your child regularly texts the same small group of friends and suddenly stops communicating with them, it could signal a social issue. Consider asking:

• “I noticed you aren’t talking to [friend’s name] as much. Did something happen?”
• “You don’t seem to text this group anymore. Did you switch to another app?”

2. Look for texting timeframes

If texts are happening late at night or during school, they could be affecting your child’s sleep or focus. Consider opening a discussion with something like:

• “I saw you were texting at 2 AM—let’s talk about some ways we can help you get some better sleep, and why that’s so important.”
• “You’re texting a lot during class. Is something distracting you?”

3. Look for texting patterns that change your child’s mood.

If your child suddenly blocks a number, if they’re rapidly texting an unknown number, or your child seems upset after texting certain numbers, ask:

• “You always seem sad or mad after texting this person. Can you share why?”
• “Do you need help setting boundaries or blocking this person?”

How do I know if my teen is ready for privacy?

It depends on the child’s level of maturity and responsibility. A good rule of thumb: Gradually allow more independence—and talk often about online safety. If your child consistently makes good choices and proves they’re safe and responsible, you can always ease up on the monitoring with a parental controls app.

Verizon Family can give you a better sense of your kid’s texting habits—who they’re talking to, how often and when. That way, you can step in and have a conversation when there’s a need.

We got you: You’re there for them with Verizon Family. Verizon’s there for you—including our 3-year price lock*.

*Learn more about our 3-year price lock guarantee.